Captain James William Pearson was an American World War I flying ace credited with twelve aerial victories while flying for the British Royal Air Force.The Aerodrome website ://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/usa/pearson1.php Retrieved on 11 April 2010.
Early life Pearson's home town was Nutley, New Jersey, despite being born in Connecticut.
World War I
Pearson was promoted to 2nd lieutenant (temporarily) in October 1917.
He was assigned to No. 23 Squadron RFC at Bertangles, which originally operated Spads. They later re-equipped with Sopwith Dolphins, and Pearson began to score confirmed victories of enemy aircraft. Between 30 May and 1 November 1918, he destroyed six enemy planes (one of which was a joint victory with Harry Compton) and drove six others down out of control.
Aerial victories
No.Date/timeFoeResultLocationNotes 1 30 May 1918 @ 1045 hours Albatros reconnaissance plane Driven down out of control South of Albert Victory shared with another pilot 2 3 June 1918 @ 1740 hours Pfalz D.III fighter Set afire and destroyed Montdidier 3 1 July 1918 @ 1135 hours Albatros D.V fighter Destroyed Hangest 4 1 July 1918 @ 1140 hours Albatros D.V fighter Driven down out of control Hangest 5 1 August 1918 @ 0720 hours Halberstadt reconnaissance plane Set afire and destroyed Caix-Harbionnieres 6 1 August 1918 @ 0740 hours Pfalz D.III fighter Driven down out of control Warfusée 7 18 September 1918 @ 1215 hours Fokker D.VII fighter Set afire and destroyed Lihaucourt 8 18 September 1918 @ 1215 hours Fokker D.VII fighter Driven down out of control Lihaucourt 9 28 October 1918 @ 1130 hours Fokker D.VII fighter Driven down out of control Bois de Nouvion 10 28 October 1918 @ 1130 hours Fokker D.VII fighter Destroyed Bois de Nouvion 11 29 October 1918 @ 1300 hours Halberstadt reconnaissance plane Driven down out of control Northeast of Landrecis 12 1 November 1918 @ 1210 hours DFW reconnaissance plane Destroyed Petit Bart Victory shared with Harry Compton and another pilot
Postwar Pearson founded the J. W. Pearson Textile Company, from which he retired in 1960. Upon his death in 1993, it was realized that Pearson was the last surviving American ace from World War I.
Honors and awards
Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC)
Lieut. (A./Capt.) James William Pearson. (FRANCE)
On 26 October, while leading a patrol, this officer observed a formation of enemy scouts. Diving to the attack, he engaged one and drove it down out of control. He then attacked a second, which he drove down to crash. In all he has accounted for seven enemy aircraft, setting at all times a fine example of skill and courageous determination.(Supplement to the London Gazette, 8 February 1919) http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/31170/pages/2044 Retrieved on 11 April 2010.
See also
List of World War I flying aces from the United States
References
Bibliography American Aces of World War 1 Harry Dempsey. Osprey Publishing, 2001. , . Over the Front: A Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the United States and French Air Services, 1914–1918 Norman L. R. Franks, Frank W. Bailey. Grub Street, 1992. , .